For kids today, summer vacation mostly consists of sitting on their cell phones in their nice air-conditioned house until mom or dad forces them to finally go outside and do something. Every once in a while the family might take a long weekend vacation together, but let's be honest, technology has taken over for kids.
They might think they have it all, but our kids don't realize how much they're missing out on. Kids have no idea just how awesome it was to experience summer as a kid in the '90s.
The Freedom We Had Was Next-Level
There was a certain freedom that we experienced as kids that just isn't attainable anymore. It's not that our parents neglected us in the '90s, it was just a different time. We woke up, went outside, and didn't come home until the streetlights turned on or we heard the call for dinnertime.
No one ever worried about us getting kidnapped or having to call Child Protective Services because all the neighborhood kids were just sitting on the green electrical box at the end of the street eating freeze pops, drinking Crystal Pepsi, and snacking on Reese's Pieces.
There Was Really No Reason To Stay Inside
We had so much freedom and fun because there was nothing to keep us inside. The only good daytime television show was The Price Is Right, and half of us didn't even have cable to watch it.
If you wanted to call a friend and see if they wanted to play Super Smash Bros. on your brother's Nintendo 64, then you had to drag the cord out of the kitchen, down the hallway, and under your bedroom door for some privacy.
Of Course, The Music Was Bumpin'
Every generation says that their music was the best, but any kid in the '90s would know that seriously, our music was actually the best. There was always one kid who had a portable radio so you could jam to TLC's "Waterfalls" and "Summertime" by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
We knew all the best songs because this was back in the day when MTV still played music videos. Plus, we knew when the next big thing was coming because we had the guestlist for TRL memorized.
And The Movies Were Unreal
Looking back on it today, it's insane to think that we saw some movies in theaters before they became cult classics. It's mind-boggling to think that The Lion King and Forrest Gump came out in the same summer!
We ran to the theater to get cheap tickets for the matinee shows of classics like Clueless and Jurassic Park. Then you'd go home and secretly stay up late watching the movies your parents said you couldn't watch like Boyz n the Hood and The Blair Witch Project.
The Best Part? There Was No Social Media To Document The Antics
Even though we didn't know it at the time, the best part of summer in the '90s was that there was no social media to document your crazy antics. You could be as wild and carefree as you wanted and no one was going to pull out a cellphone and post it on their Instagram story.
Sure, maybe your friend's mom would tell your mom that you got into trouble but it was all so carefree. Technology has made the world a better place in many ways, but being a kid in the '90s meant embracing summer in a way that is impossible today.
